EU: Energy Council

Statement

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)
I attended the Energy Council meeting on 8 December.

The council agreed a general approach on the proposed recast of the eco-design directive, which establishes a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-related products.

Following presentations by the Commission of its communication on the second strategic European energy review, and by the European Investment Bank on finance for energy investment, there was a debate on energy security structured around questions prepared by the French presidency. The debate focused on infrastructure, external relations and energy efficiency and interventions by Ministers will help to prepare the conclusions of the Energy Council and the European Council in spring 2009.

The Commission and presidency also presented information on a number of international relations events which have taken place or are due to take place under the French presidency, including the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council and the ministerial conference of the energy community treaty.

In the final part of the meeting, the Commission outlined developments on the SET plan to promote increased co-operation of research institutes in pan-EU programmes. A communication on financing low-carbon technologies is due to follow in 2009.

Over lunch, the presidency updated the council on progress on the climate and energy legislative package, focusing particularly on the renewables directive. The presidency aims to reach agreement on the package with the European Parliament by the end of the year.